Magnetic measuring apparatus

Abstract

A magnetic measuring apparatus includes an inclination gantry including a mount surface and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the mount surface, a cryostat disposed on the inclined surface, a cryocooling system connected to the cryostat, a sensor tube connected to the cryostat and including a curved surface that does not curve in a predetermined direction and curves in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction such that a center of the curved surface protrudes with respect to side edges of the curved surface, and a magnetic sensor that measures biomagnetism and is housed in the sensor tube such that a sensor surface of the magnetic sensor faces the curved surface. The sensor surface is inclined with respect to the mount surface in a direction that is the same as a direction in which the inclined surface is inclined.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic measuring apparatus, comprising:
 an inclination gantry including a mount surface and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the mount surface; 
 a cryostat disposed on the inclined surface; 
 a cryocooling system connected to the cryostat; 
 a sensor tube connected to the cryostat and including a curved surface that does not curve in a predetermined direction and curves in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction such that a center of the curved surface protrudes with respect to side edges of the curved surface; and 
 a magnetic sensor that measures biomagnetism, the magnetic sensor being housed in the sensor tube such that a sensor surface of the magnetic sensor faces the curved surface, 
 wherein the sensor surface is inclined with respect to the mount surface in a direction that is same as a direction in which the inclined surface is inclined. 
 
     
     
       2. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle of the sensor surface with respect to the mount surface is equal to an inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the mount surface. 
     
     
       3. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the magnetic sensor comprises multiple magnetic sensors that measure biomagnetism, the magnetic sensors being housed in the sensor tube such that the sensor surface of each of the magnetic sensors faces the curved surface; and 
 the sensor surface of each of the magnetic sensors is inclined with respect to the mount surface in the direction that is the same as the direction in which the inclined surface is inclined. 
 
     
     
       4. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an inclination angle of the sensor surface of each of the magnetic sensors with respect to the mount surface is equal to an inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the mount surface. 
     
     
       5. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the sensor surface of one of the magnetic sensors whose position in the sensor tube is closer to the center of the curved surface in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction protrudes more toward the curved surface compared with the sensor surface of another one of the magnetic sensors that is positioned closer to one of the side edges of the curved surface. 
     
     
       6. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inclination angles are greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 20 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle of the sensor surface with respect to the mount surface is fixed. 
     
     
       8. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an X-ray photography unit that takes an X-ray photograph of a space including a space above the curved surface; and 
 an electrical stimulation device that percutaneously applies an electric current to a subject to stimulate a target nerve. 
 
     
     
       9. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic sensor measures propagation of neural activity that is synchronized with the stimulation. 
     
     
       10. The magnetic measuring apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bed on which a subject is laid down such that an examination region of the subject contacts the curved surface, 
 wherein the bed includes an inclination adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an angle of the bed in a direction to reduce an angle of the examination region with respect to the sensor surface.